The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-04-27
"sMuskets--a dozen of 'em--and plenty

/
planation, for the men had made up their
minds what sort of customer was creep
ING up on our starboard bow. The
muskets were brought up, and with them
five or six old cutlasscS covered with
rust, without the Captain being the wiser
for it. Indeed, he was out of his head,
and could not have been made to under
stand the situation anyhow. When we
had made such preparations as we could,
the Junk had crept up to within three
quarters of a mile of us, and the mate
called us around him and said:
"'Now, men, we all know what that
fellow is after. If he gets possession of
the brig, not one of us will be spared.
We arc few in numbers, but if we make
stout fight perhaps VIC can drive him
off. At least VIC might as we'll die Tight
ing as to surrender, and have our throats
cut aftcrward.'
.sIc then went down and locked the
door of the Captains statcroom, so that
he could not get out when the row began,
and as he returned on deck it was plain
! that the Junk meant to lay US aboard
without stopping to use her cannon.
Whether she argued that VIC were weak
handed and could bc easily finished off,
or that the sound of her guns might bring
us help, I know not, but she made no
preparations to use them, She was al
most within musket shot when we lost
our wind entirely, and, as looked astern,
I saw dark cloud creeping up the hori-
zon, and knew that something moro than
a capful OF wind was getting ready for
us. A streak Of wind from olfshore
brought the junk slowly along while we
stood still. The mate whispered his or
dcrs, and each Of us took musket and
| advanced to the starboard rail. We had
orders not to fire until they were near
enough to make every bullet count. On
their side VIC could see from thirty to
thirty-ive half naked and villainous-
looking fellows, with cutlasscs in hand
ready for boarding. Not shout was
was raised nor loud word uttered on
either side. They tloatcd down to US as
silently as death, and in grim despair we
waited their coming. They meant to lay
us aboard on the starboard bow, and had
men ready with graphing irons. The
Junk was not more than pistol shot away
when we fired our volley, and three OF
the pirates were toppled over; then the
others began to yell and brandish their
naked blades, but we had neither eyes
nor ears for them. Our mate was shout
ing:
1'Load, boys, and giveit to them again,
and then stand by with the cutasscs.
''We got in another volley, killing two
more and wounding one or two, and then
the Junk struck us. the grapnels were
thrown, and with frightful yells the pi-
rates boarded us. We cut down the first
two or three, but they dropped over our
rail so fast that we retreated off in a body
and presently the whole pack of them
were on our decks. A few had pistols,
but the majority had only japanese cut
lasscs. We rallied at the mainmast, and
for two or three minutes there was hard
fighting, during which one of our men
was shot dead, and another received
bad wound from cutlass. We should
have been forced back or exterminated
right there in two or three minutes more
but for an unexpected diversion. Our
Captain had been aroused, broken his
way out, and he suddenly appeared be-
hind us armed with large American
bowie knife, which no one knew he pos
sessessed. The only garment he had on
was his shirt. His hair was on end, his
eyes blazing fire, and there was no doubt
of his being dead crazy. He uttered a
terrific yell as he came to our rescue, and
he forced his way past US and attacked
the pirates single handed. saw
him kill two while you could
count ten, and the yells he uttered were
alone enough to scare a man out OF
his boots. The pirates raised cries OF
alarm and retreated before him, and the
way we cut 'em up was awful. Such as
could get there got aboard the junk as
fast as possible, and, while two of US
were casting off the grapnels, our Cap,
tain broke away from the mate and
sprang aboard the junk, just as strong
puff Of wind hit and separated the two
craft. We had to stand by our sails, for
the breeze had come at gallop; but we
were not over 300 feet from the junk,
which was broaching to, when there was
a dull explosion, and the air was filled
with a thousand fragments of the pratt
cal craft. A head and an arm were blown
aboard of us, as also pieces of boards and
timbers.
Gas soon as we could get the brig
under control we made couple Of tacks
to fetch the spot of the explosion, but
the only vestige of her fate consisted OF
a few shattered planks and Q mast.
There was no one to save and not a
corpse in sight. We certainly killed five
before being laid aboard. On our own
decks were eight more, making a total OF
thirteen out of about thirty-five. All
others perished in the explosion, and per:
haps it was better that our Captain died
that way. Our loss, including him, was
only two. and the three wounded men
were not laid off duty."-Ne@ York Sum-.
| Treasures In pekin